Cultural/MFL tour to Normandy by coach: 5 days, 4 nights
Your cultural tour to Normandy will provide students with numerous opportunities to extend their knowledge and experience of French culture. Our suggested itinerary offers inspiration but we will tailor make your tour to meet your specific curriculum needs.
Similar tours
Suggested itinerary
Day one
Depart from school by coach
Connect with channel crossing
Stop at Honfleur en route
Arrive at accommodation
Day two
Mont St Michel
Mont St Michel Abbey
Day three
Market visit
Bayeux Tapestry
Bayeux Cathedral
360 Cinema
American Cemetery
Day four
Caramel Making factory
Goat’s Cheese Farm
Snail Farm
Bowling
Day five
Depart accommodation
Stop en route at chocolaterie
Return back to the UK on coach
Tour gallery
Excursion Locator Map
Excursion Ideas
Caramel Making – Isigny Sur Mer
Subject range: MFL, Cultural, Food Technology
What you’ll experience: See how the caramels are produced and learn about the process. The company has revived the production of caramel in Isigny sur Mer and produces 300 tons of caramel per year. The company continues to grow while preserving the craftsmanship.
Select says: Don’t miss the sample tasting! Tours are in French so ensure you have a basic understanding or you have a French speaker with you. Still worth a visit though.Festyland
Subject range: Cultural, Language
What you’ll experience: Festyland is the biggest amusement park in Normandy and offers around thirty rides. A great fun day out for students and great for activity weeks.
Select says: Located in Bretteville-sur-Odon near Caen.Chevrerie du Mesnil (Goat's Cheese Farm)
Subject range: Cultural, Food Technology, Language
What you’ll experience: Located at the foot of a dell, you’ll receive a warm welcome from Mr Martin to his farm. The 40 Alpine goats are a firm favourite with our school groups and children find out about goat breeding, cheesemaking, and also experience a cheese tasting session. A room is at your disposal for picnics and there is also an outside picnic area.
Select says: Tours are offered in English or French and this is a popular tour for all ages.Les Vergers de Ducy (Apple Juice/Cider Farm)
Subject range: Cultural, Food Technology, Language
What you’ll experience: During the tour, students are shown an introductory video followed by a tour of the orchards and an overview of the production process from washing and crushing the apples to the casks where the calvados is matured.
Select says: This is a welcoming and informative tour and students have the opportunity to taste the apple juice and purchase in the shop.Swimming - Aquanacre
Subject range: MFL, Physical Education
What you’ll experience: Aquanacre is located in Douvres-la-Délivrande, just 10 minutes from the Château du Baffy. The swimming centre has 3 pools, one outside, and a pentagliss (parallel slides).
Select says: Swimming is always a fun activity to choose for the students and great for unwinding as an evening activity.Honfleur
Subject range: MFL, Art, Cultural, Geography, Food Technology
What you’ll experience: A town with a rich artistic and historical heritage, Honfleur has beautiful old houses, narrow paved streets, monuments, little shops, traditional restaurants, galleries, artists’ studios, a fishing harbour and a marina.
Select says: The changing light on the Seine estuary inspired Monet, Boudin, Courbet, and many others. Great place to stop for lunch on route to your destination or on the way home to break up the journey.Mont Saint-Michel and Abbey
Subject range: MFL, Cultural, History, Geography, RS
What you’ll experience: Mont St-Michel is in the heart of a great bay that has the highest tides in Europe. After going through the Boulevard Gate and the King’s Gate fortified with its portcullis, you will find the main street with museums, shops and houses dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. After admiring the Abbey church, you can enjoy the beautiful view over the bay from the ramparts path.
Select says: The Abbey was turned into a prison during the days of the French Revolution and Empire, and needed to be restored before the end of the 19th century. You must transfer to the local bus over the causeway as coaches and cars are now restricted. This is due to a regeneration project going on in the area currently – more information is available at the visitors centre near the car park before you go over the causeway.Bayeux Tapestry Museum
Subject range: MFL, Art, Cultural, History
What you’ll experience: The Bayeux Tapestry is a unique source on the 11th century beginning with Harold’s eventful journey to Normandy through to the Battle of Hastings. Visits are by audio-guide giving commentary on the scenes.
Select says: There is a simplified audio version in English especially for children.Bayeux Cathedral
Subject range: MFL, Art, Cultural, History, RS
What you’ll experience: The cathedral of Notre-Dame in Bayeux is an impressive building with a mix of Romanesque architecture in the 11th century crypt and Gothic in the 13th-century nave. The crypt contains some beautiful murals and the stained-glass windows in the chapel are stunning.
Select says: Read the diagram on the stairs before you descend into the crypt, as it gives some information about the images below.Market Visits
Subject range: MFL, Cultural, Food Technology
What you’ll experience: The markets in Normandy are fabulous places for students to see and sample the diversity of local produce and traditions, and to experience a colourful, lively and welcoming atmosphere. It’s also a great chance to try out their language skills. A full list of possibilities can be viewed a at the Normandy tourism website market page.
Select says: Bear in mind that most markets take place in the morning or on specific days. Some accommodations allow you to take food back and make lunches for your group after the market visit. Some groups enjoy doing this as a French language use excersise.Bell Foundry "Cornille Havard" at Villedieu-Les-Poeles
Subject range: MFL, Cultural, History
What you’ll experience: The chimes of the bells greet visitors in the garden, then students participate in a guided tour lasting about 20 minutes through the historical workshop showing how bells are made. They will also view antique bells.
Select says: The foundry continues to manufacture bells for churches, ships, and public buildings throughout the world as well as other bronze works.Biscuit Makers - Sablés d’Asnelles
Subject range: MFL, Cultural, Food Technology
What you’ll experience: A traditional, pure butter biscuit producer. Located in the small village of Asnelles which has been open now for over 100 years. They will give you a brief tour (normally about 10mins) then you will get the chance to sample the product itself.
Select says: Take some euros as you will also have the opportunity to make additional purchases! Large groups are broken down into smaller groups to ensure everyone gets the full experience.William the Conqueror's Castle, Falaise
Subject range: MFL, Cultural
What you’ll experience: William the Conqueror, the son of Duke Robert of Normandy, was born at the castle in about 1028. William went on to conquer England and become king and possession of the castle descended through his heirs until the 13th century when it was captured by King Philip II of France. The tour uses computer tablets to show the castle as it was lived in together with a description of the history of the Normans.
Select says: There are lots of stairs to climb, but there’s a lovely view over Falaise from the castle heights.Chocolaterie du Drakkar
Subject range: MFL, Cultural, Food Technology
What you’ll experience: At Chocolaterie du Drakkar, students learn all about the history and production of chocolates, including a film which takes you on a trip to the cocoa plantations of Sao Tome. Students will get many insights into the production process at Drakkar, including trying to recognize the aromas that are most often mixed with cocoa.
Select says: Of course, this visit would not be a chocolate tour without some traditional tasting!
Cultural/MFL trip to Normandy by coach: 5 days, 4 nights Accommodation
Château du Baffy
Location: Colombiers-sur-Seulles
Capacity: 110
The Château is only 6 kilometres from the picturesque seaside town of Courselles-sur-Mer with its yacht harbour and sandy beaches, and is also on the doorstep of Bayeux and the World War II landing beaches. It's the perfect base for groups to enjoy the wealth of excursions and educational experiences on offer in this historical area.
Select says: The Château du Baffy has a main building and the adjacent Villa Mathilde - both buildings accommodate a full coach capacity, so groups can enjoy sole-occupancy of their building. Our Château has been a highly popular choice for dozens of UK schools in the past fifteen years and will now be operated by our own team, including our renowned French chef Thierry!
One of our teachers says, “Beautiful setting – a great place to take school groups. Plenty of outdoor space to run around and very French feeling dining room. Ideal location to explore this wonderful area.”
Rooms: The Château sleeps up to 110 persons in 2-5 bedded rooms, all with en-suite bathrooms.
Facilities: There are two restaurants, a teachers' lounge, a sun-terrace, and a meeting room. Outside there are lawned gardens and a tennis court, as well as a barbeque area, plus a new 100 metre squared sports hall!
UNCMT Tailleville
Location: Tailleville
Capacity: 50
Tailleville is a traditional rural hamlet just 3km from Courseulles and 12km from Arromanches. The UNCMT is set in its own grounds and is a great accommodation for school groups, with classrooms available if required as well as plenty of enclosed outside space.
Rooms: Mostly en-suite rooms, some shared facilities.
Facilities: Restaurant, meeting rooms, table tennis, volleyball.
CPCV Normandie
Location: Houlgate
Capacity: 94
Located in its own grounds in the attractive seaside resort of Houlgate, just 50m from the seafront and beach, also within easy walking distance of the town centre.
Rooms: All rooms have en-suite facilities.
Facilities: Restaurant, TV room, lounge area, table tennis.
Hotel le Canada
Location: Ouistreham
Capacity: 55
Located in Ouistreham 200m from Sword Beach, one of the famous sites of the Second World War where British troops landed. The town centre is only 500m away.
Select says: Groups can get packed lunches delivered and take evening meals at a local restaurant close by.
Rooms: All rooms have en-suite facilities.
Facilities: Breakfast room, free Wi-Fi.
Le Home du Cotentin
Location: Agon-Coutainville
Capacity: 170
This property occupies an ideal position just 50m from the seafront in Agon-Coutainville. Le Home du Contentin is located between Mont-Saint-Michel and the landing sites from June 1944, in front of the islands of Jersey and Guernsey.
Rooms: All rooms have en-suite facilities.
Facilities: 2 dining rooms, meeting / classrooms, free Wi-Fi, games room.
Links to Learning
Learning areas:
Why not link your cultural tour to your school PSHE planning? Areas covered could include: gaining self-confidence and independence; working together and making new friends; trying new activities; enjoy healthy, safe, responsible and fulfilled lives; recognising and managing risks; take increasing responsibility for themselves.
For KS3/4 how about linking a cultural tour to the Citizenship curriculum: to enable them to manage their money on a day-to-day basis.
For KS2 – how about linking to the Foreign Language curriculum: listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding; engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; develop accurate pronunciation and intonation; broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words.
KS3 Modern foreign language: develop and use a wide-ranging and deepening vocabulary that goes beyond their immediate needs and interests; listen to a variety of forms of spoken language to obtain information and respond appropriately; initiate and develop conversations, coping with unfamiliar language and unexpected responses, making use of important social conventions such as formal modes of address; speak coherently and confidently, with increasingly accurate pronunciation and intonation.
Select Extras:
For KS2 students to practise their language skills pre-tour try these resources:BBC Primary French – language lab
BBC Primary French – all about me (also includes French sounds video and songs)
KS3/KS4 There are some fantastic video clips available here including situations such as a visit to the market:
KS3 BBC Bitesize – a visit to the market
KS4 BBC Bitesize GCSE resources
Have you thought of selecting a relevant movie for the coach journey? We recommend Ratatouille!